Lady Vols lose for first time at home
KNOXVILLE, TENN. — Tennessee winning at home had become a women’s NCAA Tournament lock.
But the tradition-rich program saw its remarkable streak finally come to an end on Sunday afternoon.
The Lady Vols lost for the first time at home in NCAA Tournament history when sixth-seeded Oregon State defeated third-seeded Tennessee 66-59 in the second round in front of a crowd of 4,338 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tennessee had been 57-0 at home with most of those victories coming under late Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt, who led the program to eight national championships. It’s the second straight season that Tennessee lost in the second round of the NCAAs and will miss the Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in the program’s 37-year tournament history.
Mercedes Russell finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds in the final game of her Tennessee career. Fellow senior Jaime Nared scored nine points on 3 of 14 shooting.
Oregon State coach Scott Rueck read an article at 2 a.m. Sunday morning about Tennessee’s unblemished NCAA home record and thought, “How often in life do you have a chance to do something for the first time?”
He informed his players at shootaround, and the Beavers went out and added another chapter to their renaissance.
Marie Gulich had 14 points and 12 rebounds as Oregon State advanced to the regional semifinals for the third straight year.
“We had an opportunity to do something today that is really special and that is a first,” Rueck said. “So when the clock was ticking down right at the very end and we knew we had it, I just couldn’t hardly believe how far this team has come.”
Rueck can say the same for his program. The onetime Pac-12 Conference doormat has become a perennial contender with expectations to make deep tournament runs and share the stage with traditionrich Tennessee.
Tennessee (24-8) and OSU (25-7) played an intense game befitting of two teams separated by only one spot in the AP poll entering the tournament.
Tennessee’s swarming pressure defense flustered OSU early, forcing turnovers and contested shots. The national leader in 3-point field goal percentage, OSU started 1 for 7 from behind the 3-point line in the first half.
LEXINGTON REGION
No. 1 LOUISVILLE 90, No. 8 MARQUETTE 72: Myisha Hines-Allen had 24 points and 13 rebounds, Asia Durr scored 19 points and Louisville quickly pounced on Marquette on the way to a victory. The Cardinals (34-2) advanced to their second consecutive Sweet 16.
SPOKANE REGION
No. 1 NOTRE DAME 98, No. 9 VILLANOVA 72: Jessica Shepard had her fourth straight double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds to lead Notre Dame. Arike Ogunbowale and Jackie Young had 24 points each and Marina Mabrey added 15 for the Irish (31-3), who held the Wildcats to just 27 secondhalf points.
No. 4 TEXAS A&M 80, No. 5 DEPAUL 79: Freshman Chennedy Carter hit a 3 with 3.2 seconds left, capping a 37-point performance, to help Texas A&M rally from a 17-point second-half deficit and beat DePaul.
KANSAS CITY REGION No. 4 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 74, No. 5 MARYLAND 60: Kiara Leslie had 21 points and 11 rebounds against her former team and North Carolina State beat Maryland. Leslie, who spent three seasons at Maryland before graduating and transferring to N.C. State, finished one point shy of a career high.